Gen KS Brar, who led operation Blue Star, attacked in London

LONDON: Retired Lt General K S Brar, who had led “Operation Blue Star” 28 years ago to pull out pro-Khalistani-militants in the Golden Temple, was attacked in central London Sunday night by four assailants, inflicting injuries on him.

Seventy-eight-year-old Lt Gen Brar, a Z-category protectee, was returning to his hotel from a dinner along with his wife. A television channel quoted her as saying that three bearded men attacked and tried to slash his throat. But she would not jump to the conclusion that they were Sikhs.

He was rushed to a hospital from where he was discharged Monday after a surgery and his wounds were stitched.

The identity of the assailants was not known nor was it clear whether the attack had anything to do with his role in the “Operation Blue Star”.

Sources said the incident took place at 0100 IST on Old Quebec Street near Hyde Park when Brar was out with his wife. The couple are in London on a private visit. Gen Brar was attended by the London Ambulance Service (LAS).

The Military Attache in the Indian High Commission in London visited the hospital and enquired about the condition of the decorated officer.

It was not also clear whether he had security in London.

Sources said External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who is in New York, called up the Indian High Commissioner J Bhagwati to know about the condition of Gen Brar, who has been on the hit-list of various extremists organisations after his central role in Operation Blue Star in 1984.

The operation was aimed at flushing out Sikh terrorists led by Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale from the Golden Temple, who was demanding a separate state for Sikhs called Khalistan.

Gen Brar is a decorated soldier who had seen action in the 1971 war with Pakistan. He was among the first to enter Dhaka when the Indian army forced Pakistani army into surrender.

Gen AS Vaidyawho was the Army Chief in 1984 and planned the controversial Operation Blue Star.